Committee Membership Information

Martha Grabowski (Chair) is McDevitt Chair in Information Systems and Professor, Chair of the Business Administration Department at Le Moyne College and Research Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is also a licensed former merchant officer and retired Lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Much of Dr. Grabowski?s work centers on developing understandings of how large-scale systems of people, organizations and technology behave, particularly those that are complex and geographically distributed. Her research projects focus on the impact of technology in safety-critical systems, risk analysis, and risk mitigation in large-scale systems, and the role of human and organizational error in high consequence settings. Currently, she is studying how social media can mobilize large masses of people in harm?s way in very short time periods during extreme warning events, and modeling high reliability virtual organizations for post-disaster clean up, for global supply chains, and for financial cybersecurity systems.
Dr. Grabowski is a recent past chair of the Marine Board and has served on numerous NRC committees, including chairing the NRC committee on Naval Engineering in the 21st Century and vice-chairing the Committee on Review of the Tsunami Warning and Forecast System and Overview of the Nation's Tsunami Preparedness. Dr. Grabowski earned a B.S. from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and an MBA, an M.S. in Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Management and Information Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. Richard K. Glenn
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation

Richard K. Glenn is the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation's Executive Vice President of Lands and Natural Resources and a member of their Board of Directors. The Arctic Slope Regional Corporation is an Alaska Native-owned regional corporation representing more than eight thousand Inupiat Eskimos of Alaska?s North Slope. The shareholders of ASRC own surface and subsurface title to nearly five million acres of Alaskan North Slope lands with oil, gas, coal and mineral resources. Mr. Glenn has special expertise in resource development in an Arctic setting, and is well-versed in on and offshore Arctic geologic and sea-ice processes. From 1995 to 2001, he headed the North Slope Borough Department of Energy Management, where he supervised the energy programs for all of the North Slope Borough villages. He has twice been appointed by the President to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and he is also the founder of the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium, a not-for-profit organization that encourages research and educational activities in the North Slope and facilitates the two-way transfer of information between scientists and the local communities. Mr. Glenn has also experience in his extended family's subsistence whaling crew, having served as its co-captain for almost twenty years. Mr. Glenn received a B.S. in Geology from San Jose State University in 1985 and an M.S. in Geology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1991 and is a licensed professional geologist.

Mr. Mark Reed
SINTEF Materials and Chemistry

Mark Reed is an expert in marine environmental modeling and impact assessments at SINTEF. He has a scientific focus in numerical model development for decision support applications, including coupled physical, biological and chemical processes in the marine environment, with particular focus on fates and effects of pollutants (including oil, petroleum products, and chemicals) in the marine environment. He has also worked in quantitative environmental impact and natural resource damage assessment, and has tracked animal migrations, biological transport, and fishery dynamics using numerical modeling. Dr. Reed used his modeling expertise to help with the Deepwater Horizon Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and has also worked on field programs for oil spill response in ice and cold water. SINTEF is the largest independent, non-profit research organization in Scandinavia, and has significant expertise in marine environmental technology, including fate and effects of spilled oil in cold regions. Dr. Reed received a B.A. Philosophy from Antioch College in 1969, an M.S. in Civil and Urban Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975, and a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from the University of Rhode Island in 1980.

Dr. Robert Suydam
North Slope Borough

Robert Suydam is a wildlife biologist whose research interests have focused on monitoring population trends and documenting natural history traits of bowhead whales, beluga whales, eiders, geese, caribou, and other Arctic species. He has held a position within the North Slope Borough?s Department of Wildlife Management since 1990, and as part of this job conducts studies on wildlife species that are important for subsistence on the North Slope of Alaska. He is also responsible for reviewing documents related to oil and gas exploration, development, and production for projects on shore and offshore, with a focus on reviewing and evaluating impacts to bowhead whales and other marine mammals from industrial activities, particularly industrial sounds, in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas off northern Alaska. He has written more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has authored numerous scientific reports. Dr. Suydam received a B.S. in Environmental Biology from California State University-Fresno in 1986, an M.S. in Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1995, and a Ph.D. in Aquatic and Fishery sciences from the University of Washington in 2009.

Dr. Mark D. Myers
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Mark D. Myers is the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a position he has held since January 2011. Dr. Myers previously worked as the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act coordinator for the State of Alaska, and was the director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 2006-2009. His career as a geologist and policymaker spans more than three decades, and includes work as a geologist for ARCO Alaska and the State of Alaska. He is an internationally recognized leader in energy and science policy and has wide-ranging industry, state and federal government experience. From 2001 to 2005, he served as director of the state Division of Oil and Gas. Prior to his geology career, Dr. Myers served in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve as a pilot and intelligence officer. As Vice Chancellor for Research, Dr. Myers oversees administration of UAF?s $123-million-per-year research enterprise and supervises the university?s research institutes. Dr. Myers received his B.S. and M.S. in Geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1977 and 1981, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1994.

Dr. Brenda Norcross
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Brenda L. Norcross is a Professor of Fisheries Oceanography in the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Her research centers on fishes and their habitats, including human-induced effects on the environment. Since 2004, Norcross?s research has focused on fishes in the Arctic: the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Dr. Norcross headed the herring component of the multi-investigator Sound Ecosystem Assessment project, which investigated the environment of Prince William Sound following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. That research resulted in a synthetic knowledge of the juvenile life stage of herring. She has studied flatfishes in Alaskan waters and has modeled nursery habitats. Dr. Norcross was a member of two NRC committees, Committee on Improving the Collection and Use of Fisheries Data and the Committee to Review the Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Monitoring Program. Dr. Norcross earned her Ph.D. in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary in 1983.

Dr. James M. Tiedje
Michigan State University

James M. Tiedje is the University Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, and is Director of the Center for Microbial Ecology at Michigan State University. His research focuses on ecology, physiology, and genetics/genomics underlying important microbial processes in nature. Some of his relevant interests for this study include biodegradation of environmental pollutants and bioremediation, and microbial life in permafrost. His group has discovered several microbes that live by halorespiration on chlorinated solvents and is using genomics to better understand ecological functions, endemism and niche adaptation. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of Applied and Environmental Microbiology and Editor of Microbial and Molecular Biology Reviews. He has over 450 refereed papers, including seven in Science and Nature. He shared the 1992 Finley Prize of UNESCO for research contributions in microbiology of international significance, is Fellow of the AAAS (The American Association for the Advancement of Science), the American Academy Microbiology, and the Soil of Science Society of America, and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He was President of the American Society for Microbiology in 2004-2005. He received his B.S. degree from Iowa State University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University.

Dr. Peter Wadhams
University of Cambridge

Peter Wadhams is Professor of Ocean Physics at Cambridge University. He is an oceanographer and glaciologist involved in polar oceanographic and sea ice research and concerned with climate change processes in polar regions. He leads the Polar Ocean Physics group, studying the effects of global warming on sea ice, icebergs, and the polar oceans. This involves work in the Arctic and Antarctic from nuclear submarines, autonomous underwater vehicles, icebreakers, aircraft and drifting ice camps. He has led over 40 polar field expeditions. Dr. Wadhams began his career in ocean science as a research assistant for a year aboard the Canadian research ship ?Hudson? on the ?Hudson-70? expedition (1969-70) which accomplished the first circumnavigation of the Americas. Later, he was Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge (1987-92) before moving to his present position. He has been awarded the Polar Medal by the Queen of England and the Italgas Prize for Environmental Sciences. He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, and a Member of the Finnish Academy. Dr. Wadhams received his Ph.D. from the Scott Polar Research Institute in 1974.

Mr. David F. Dickins
DF Dickins and Associates, LLC

David F. Dickins has 40 years of project management experience focusing on environmental issues associated with offshore oil exploration and development, and marine transportation in Arctic waters. His company, DF Dickins Associates, founded in 1978, provides engineering research services for government and industry clients in the United States, Canada, Russia, Scandinavia, and Europe. Mr. Dickins has an established worldwide reputation, and is regarded within the scientific and engineering community as an expert on Arctic sea ice and marine environments, oil spills in ice, remote sensing, shipping route evaluations, and environmental impacts. He has worked on issues related to cold water oil spill response and recovery for over 20 years, including the management of large-scale experimental spills in ice. Mr. Dickins received a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in 1971 and is a Professional Engineer.

Dr. Thomas S. Coolbaugh
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company

Thomas S. Coolbaugh is a Distinguished Scientific Associate in the Oil Spill Response Technology Group at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering in Fairfax, Virginia. As the leader of the Oil Spill Response Technology group, he provides technical guidance and training on the full suite of oil spill response strategies in support of global operations. In this position, his focus includes dispersants, in-situ burn, and remote sensing. He has held a number of positions at ExxonMobil and is an inventor/co-inventor on 42 United States patents along with numerous international patents covering a variety of compositions of matter and processes, including synthetic elastomers, dispersants, lubricants, and other specialty additives. Dr. Coolbaugh is also a member of the API Joint Industry Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Task Force. He is the author of various publications covering a range of subject matter including oil spill response technology. Dr. Coolbaugh received his B.A. in Chemistry from Amherst College and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. He has also received an M.S. in the Management of Technology from Polytechnic University (Now Polytechnic Institute of NYU).

Mr. William L. Majors
Alaska Clean Seas

William L. Majors has spent the last 10 years as the Planning & Development Manager for Alaska Clean Seas, a not-for-profit oil spill response cooperative located on the North Slope of Alaska. Their membership includes oil and pipeline companies that engage in or intend to undertake oil and gas exploration, development, production or pipeline transport activities on the North Slope. Mr. Majors coordinates oil spill response research and development projects, training, and safety, including working with member companies on contingency plan development, oil spill response readiness, and oil spill response training and exercises and cooperating with regulatory and resource agencies on oil spill response readiness. Mr. Majors also spent almost 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, including ten years? experience in marine safety and pollution response. He has over 25 years of oil spill response and management experience.

VADM Brian Salerno
BIMCO

Vice Admiral Brian Salerno is recently retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, where his last position was as the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and Stewardship. He currently serves as the U.S. Liaison Officer for BIMCO, an international shipping association comprising a membership of a broad range of stakeholders with interests in the shipping industry. He held prior positions as the Assistant Commandant for Policy and Planning and as the Director of Inspections and Compliance at Coast Guard Headquarters. VADM Salerno was responsible for developing and promulgating national marine safety, security and environmental protection doctrine, policy, and regulations, as well as ensuring policy alignment throughout the Coast Guard and among federal and international partners. In addition, he oversaw important work with federal advisory committees, industry/stakeholder partnerships, and international delegations on marine safety, security, and environmental protection. He received a Master?s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2000, and also has a Master?s degree in Management from the Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Mary-Louise Timmermans
Yale University

Mary-Louise Timmermans is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Yale University. Her principal research focus is investigating the dynamics and variability of the Arctic Ocean to better understand how the ocean impacts Arctic sea ice and climate. Her approach is to apply fundamental theoretical models to geophysical observations, including measurements from an ice-based network of drifting automated ocean-profiling instruments, and hydrographic measurements from icebreaker surveys. Her research includes investigations of ocean mixing, eddies, waves, double-diffusive heat transport, and freshwater and heat content in the upper Arctic Ocean. She received a B.S. in Physics at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics from Cambridge University in 2000.

Dr. Kenneth Lee
Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Kenneth Lee is the Executive Director of the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research (COOGER), part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. At COOGER he is responsible for the identification of priority research needs and the coordination and implementation of collaborative national and international research programs with government and academia to provide scientific knowledge and advice pertaining to the potential environmental impacts associated with the development of Canada?s offshore oil and gas and the ocean renewable energy sector. Dr. Lee?s research and project management activities include chemical and microbiological studies on the biotransformation and biodegradation of contaminants; development of novel approaches to assess the impact of organic pollutants by the development and validation of toxicity assays based on advances in genomics, microbial ecology and biochemical analysis; coordination of multidisciplinary studies including the application of numerical models to predict the risk of industrial activities and contaminants on ecosystem help; and studies to link organic and inorganic contaminants, marine noise, and alterations in hydrodynamic processes to effects on biota, including commercial fisheries species. Dr. Lee is one of the world?s leading experts on the effects of dispersants and other spill response technologies. He is currently serving on the NRC Committee on the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Mississippi Canyon-252 Oil Spill on Ecosystem Services in the Gulf of Mexico. He received a B.Sc. in Biology from Dalhousie University in 1975 and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Botany/Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto in 1977 and 1982, respectively.

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